Abstract

We present a method for computing stationary distributions for activated processes in equilibrium and nonequilibrium systems using forward flux sampling. In this method, the stationary distributions are obtained directly from the rate constant calculations for the forward and backward reactions; there is no need to perform separate calculations for the stationary distribution and the rate constant. We apply the method to the nonequilibrium rare event problem proposed by Maier and Stein, to nucleation in a 2-dimensional Ising system, and to the flipping of a genetic switch.

Received 25 May 2007Accepted 09 July 2007Published online 21 September 2007

Acknowledgments:

The authors thank Vitaly Shneidman, Beate Schmittmann, and Sorin Tǎnase-Nicola for their valuable advice. Part of this work falls under the research program of the “Stichting voor Fundamenteel Onderzoek der Materie (FOM),” which is financially supported by the “Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (NWO).” One of the authors (R.J.A.) was funded by the European Union Marie Curie program and by the Royal Society of Edinburgh.